5 Pinoys dead in Bering sinking

Ten days after the South Korean fishing vessel Oriong-501 sank in the Bering Sea, five Filipinos remained missing as rescuers confirmed the death of five others.

Sources, who requested anonymity, on Thursday identified Jessie Londres, Robert Lopez, Arnel Navales and George Servania Jr. as among the fatalities. The fifth body recovered by the rescuers is still being identified.

Filipino fishermen Micol Sabay, Teddy Parabague Jr. and Rowell Aljecera survived the incident and are said to be on their way to Busan in South Korea.

“All six survivors (including the 3 Filipinos) and the 21 remains were transferred from the vessel Oyang 96 to the vessel Odin. Life vests and rescue rafts found on the site of the sinking were also transferred to Odin,” the source said.

The Russian government was also reported to have already issued a certification of nationality for the three Filipino survivors. The certification was needed for their passage from the Russian territory to Busan.

Authorities are yet to investigate the cause of the accident, the source said.